Circuit breaker



June 24, 1941. FRANK ETAL 2,247,195

CIRCUIT BREAKER Original Filed Feb. 21, 1940 INYENTOR:

BY M

Patented June 24, 1941 cmcurr BREAKER William H. Frank and Elwood T. Platz,

Detroit, Mich.

Original application February 21, 1940, Serial No.

Divided and this application September 30, 1940, Serial No. 358,944

18 Claims. '(cl. 2oo-11s) struction which has many manufacturing economies and advantages, and, further, it permits a more compact circuit breaker than is that of the subject prior application.

For an understanding of the breaker hereof, reference should be had to the appended drawing in which- Figs. 1 to 3 show the switch parts in closed circult, open circuit, and overload released positions, respectively.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that it shows a handle 40 pivoted at H to a casing and connected at 42 to one end of a bowed leaf spring 43 whose other end is connected at I44 to an arm I45 pivotally mounted at I45a on the casing and having a slot 51) for receiving the end of a circuit responsive bimetal latch 46 connected through flexible connection 41 to a movable contact 48 suitably mounted on the spring 43 with the movable contact mating with a stationary contact 50 for butt contact. The handle is formed with a large recess in its under side to receive arm I45 and other parts of the breaker.

When the handle is in the closed circuit position of Fig. 1, the spring 43 is stressed lengthwise; one end is held by the engagementof the spring with arm I45 and by the engagement of that arm with latch 46. The other end of the spring is held at the handle connection 42 by the reaction of the contact pressure of butt contacts 4l54. The stress on spring 43 results in contact pressure at 48-50, and also biases arm I48 to move counterclockwise.

When the handle is moved to the open circuit position (Fig. 2) the spring is stressed and moves. lifting the contact 48 from the contact 50 with the final part of such movement of contact 4'. being a snap movement, the latch connection end of the spring being held by the arm and the latch. Inopen circuit position, also, the spring 43 is stressed lengthwise.

Oncircuit closing operation movement oi the handle from the open circuit position, Fig. 2, to the closed circuit position, Fig, 1, will cause con tact [44 to engage contact 50 with -a'snap action.

When the latch releases due to overload, arm I45, biased by spring 43 counterclockwise, is released by the latch whereupon the spring 43 and arm I45 will snap counterclockwise about end 43 as a pivot with a snap action, lifting the contact 48 off the contact 50.

- During movement of handle 40 to and from the positions of Figs. 1-2, spring 43 is stressed lengthwise an additional amount, over and above the lengthwise stress thereon when the parts are stationary, due to the difference in curvature of the are A swung on center 4| with radius 4I42 and the arc B swung on center I44 with radius I44-42. Such additional stress is relieved as the line I44-42 crosses center H, to produce snap action.

' For resetting thehandle moves towards the open circuit position (Fig. 2) so that the right end of the handle pushes arm I45 down to the tip of latch 46 which has been cooled and returned and to re-engage the latch tip with the slot I45b of the arm.

During reset contact 48 does not pass through circuit closed position since as the latch connection end of spring 43 moves down, the other end 42 moves up.

The spring 43 provides contact pressure when the circuit is closed, biases the contacts separated when the latch releases or when the handle is moved to the open circuit position, biases the contact into closed circuit position when the handle is moved to closed circuit position, and gives a snap action to the final part of each movement of the contact when the contact is moved by the handle.- Thecontacts are of the butt contact pressure type and the spring establishes butt contact pressure.

The provision of the arm I45 reduces the friction between the moving spring and the stationary parts, on overload, due to the fact that the pivoted arm support for the latch end of the spring gives a more frictionless support for the spring than would be provided if the latch connection end of the spring were formed with a cross piece to slide in a slot, as in the case of the circuit breaker of the parent application, Figs. 1 to 3 of Serial No. 320,116,

Resetting of the breaker hereof is facilitated because it is easier to swing the latch end of the spring 43 and arm I45 downwardly to the latch than it is to slide the latch'end of the spring down in casing slots, as in the case of the breaker of Figs. 1 to 3 of Serial No. 320,116:

'Now having described the device herein shown, reference will be had to the claims which follow for a determination of the herein.

We claim:

1. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a conprotection sought tact thereon and moved thereby, a handle direleasable connection between the latch and,

the adjacent end of the spring, the handle and the latch providing direct connected separate holding means for the spring, the relation between the spring, the latch, and the handle being such that on release of the latch the spring biases the contact to open circuit position by moving around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle, and on movement of the handle the spring moves the contact to open circuit position by moving around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, the points of connection between the handle and spring and between the latch and spring being spaced from each other, the spring normally biasing the contact into closed circuit position.

2. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a contact thereon and moved thereby, a handle directly connected to one end of the spring so as to provide for manipulation thereof, a pivotally mounted arm to which the other end of the spring is directly connected, a circuit current responsive latch directly and releasably connected to said arm at a point adjacent the connection of the spring to said arm, the arm providing a releasable connection between the latch and the adjacent end of the spring, the handle and the latch providing direct connected separate holding means for the spring, the relation between the spring, the latch, and the handle being such that on release of the latch the spring biases the contact to open circuit position by moving around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle, and on movement of the handle the spring moves the contact to open circuitposition by moving around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, the points of connection between the handle and spring and between the latch and spring being spaced from each other, the spring normally biasing the contact into closed circuit position, the handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to move with a snap action when the handle moves the spring to give snap action to the final parts of the handle actuated movements of the contact.

3. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a contact thereon and moved thereby, a handle and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and tme latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latch-spring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being 'a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

e. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a contact thereon and moved thereby, a handle, and a circut condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latch-spring connection being releasable on latch movement due to .circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the spring, in closed circuit position of the parts, biasing the contact to such closed position for establishing contact pressure and also biasing the contact in such a direction that the contact will move to open circuit position in the event of latch release with movement of the handie from open circuit position to closed circuit position moving the spring to a position wherein it biases the contact to closed circuit position with contact pressure.

5. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a contact thereon and moved thereby, a handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting'the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latch-spring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably "connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the'handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to move with a snap action on handle actuated movement of the spring whereby the final part of each handle actuated movement of the spring and contact is a snap movement.

6. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a bowed leaf spring, a contact thereon and moved thereby, a handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latch-spring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit positon, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and-thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the spring, in closed circuit position 01' the parts, biasing the contact to such closed position for establishing contact pressure and also biasing the contact in such a direction that the contact will move to open circuit position in the event of latch release, with movement of the handle from open circuit position to closed circuit position moving the spring to a position wherein it biases the contact to closed circuit position with contact pressure, the handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to move with a snap action on handle actuatedmovement of the spring whereby the final part of each handle actuated movement of the spring and contact is a snap movement.

7. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact moved thereby, a handle directly connected to one end of the spring so as to provide for manipulation thereof, a pivotally mounted arm to which the other end of the spring is directly connected, a circuit current responsive latch directly and releasably connected to said arm at a point adjacent the connection of the spring to said arm, the arm providing a releasable connection between the latch and the adjacent end ofthe spring, the handle and the latch providing direct connected separate holding means for the spring, the relation between the spring, the latch, and the handle being such that on release of the latch the spring biases the contact to open circuit position by moving around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle, and on movement of the handle the spring moves the contact to open circuit position by moving around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, the points of connection between the handle and spring and between the latch and spring being spaced from each other, the spring normally'biasing the contact into closed circuit position, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on'which the movable contact is supported.

8. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact operatively connected thereto soas, to be moved thereby, a handle directly connected to the spring so as to provide for manipulation thereof, a circuit current responsive latch directly connected to said spring, the handle and the latch providing direct connected separated holding means for the spring, the relation between the spring, the latch, and the handle being such that on release or the latch the spring biases the contact to open circuit position by moving around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle, and on movement of the handle the spring moves the contact to open circuit position by moving around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, the points of connection between the bandle and spring and between the latch and spring being spaced from each other, the spring normally biasing the contact into closed circuit position, the handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to cross the pivot of the handle when the handle moves the spring to give snap action to the final parts of the handle actuated movements of the contact, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on which the movable contact is supported, there being' a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

9. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby, a handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected" directly to the handle and the latch, the latchspring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection and of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on which the movable contact is supported.

10. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby, a handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latchspring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the spring, in closed circuit position of the parts, biasing the contact to such closed position for establishing contact pressure and also biasing the contact in such a direction that the contact will move to open circuit position in the event of latch release, with movement of the handle from open circuit position to closed circuit positon moving the spring to a position wherein it biases the contact to closed circuit position with contact pressure, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on which the movable contact is supported.

11. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby. a

- handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch,

the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latchspring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring,

, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed tions to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring, the handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to cross the handle pivot on handle actuated movement of the spring whereby the final part of each handle actuated movement of the spring and contact is snap movement, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on which the movable contact is supported.

12. A manually operable switch and circuit breaker including a spring, a contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby, a handle, and a circuit condition responsive latch, the spring connecting the handle and the latch and for this purpose having its ends connected directly to the handle and the latch, the latchspring connection being releasable on latch movement due to circuit abnormality so that the spring moves the contact to open circuit position, the handle being actuable to move the spring, and thus the contact, to and from open and closed circuit positions, the spring, in closed circuit position of the parts, biasing the contact'to such closed position for establishing contact pressure and also biasing the contact in such a direction that the contact will move to open circuit position in the event of latch release,with movement of the handle from open circuit position to closed circuit position moving the spring to a position wherein it biases the contact to closed circuit position with contact pressure, the handle being pivotally mounted and the spring being arranged to cross the handle pivot on handle actuated movement of the spring whereby the final part of each handle actuated movement of the spring and contact is a snap movement, the spring comprising a bowed leaf spring between the latch and the handle, and on which the movable contact is supported, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker,to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

. 13. A butt pressure contact circuit breaker including a movable butt contact, a stationary contact, a handle, and a circuit responsive latch, and a single bowed leaf spring for butt pressing the movable contact against the stationary contact when the parts are in circuit closed position, and for biasing the movable contact away from the stationary contact in the event of a release by the latch, and for producing a snap movement of the movable contact into circuit closing position following movement of the handle out of circuit open position, the spring having an end connected to the handle and an end connected to the latch, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

i A butt pressure contact circuit breaker including a movable butt contact, a stationary contact, a handle, and a circuit responsive latch, and a single spring for butt pressing the movablecontact against the stationary contact when the parts are in circuit closed positions, and for biasing the movable contact away from the stationary contact in the event of a release the latch, and for producing a snap move ment of the movable contact into circuit closing position following movement of the handle, out of circuit open position, the spring being a bowed leaf spring having an end connected to the handle and an end connected to the latch, and on which the movable contact is supported, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

15. A circuit breaker including a stationary contact, a bowed leaf spring means, a movable contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby, a handle directly connected thereto so as to provide for manipulation thereof, a circuit responsive latch directly connected to said spring means, the handle and the latch providing separate direct acting holding means for the spring means, the relation between the spring means, the latch, and the handle being such that on release of the latch the spring means moves around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle so as to bias the contact to open circuit position, and on movement of the handle the spring means moves around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, so as to bias the contact to open circuit position, the points of connection between the handle and spring means and between the latch and spring means being spaced from each other, the movable contact connected to the spring means being formed to butt against the stationary contact, with the spring means biasing the movable contact against the stationary contact when the circuit is closed and the handle and latch hold the spring means, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

16. A circuit breaker including a stationary contact, a spring means, a movable contact operatively connected thereto so as to be moved thereby, a handle directly connected thereto so as to provide for manipulation thereof, a circuit responsive latch directly connected to said spring means, the handle, and the latch providing separate direct acting holding means for the spring means, the relation between the spring means, the

latch, and the handle being such that on release of the latch the spring means moves around the handle connection thereto as a pivot without requiring movement of the handle so as to bias the contact to open circuit position, and on movement of the handle the spring means moves around the latch connection thereto as a pivot without moving the latch, so as to bias the contact to open circuit position, the points of connection between the handle and spring means and between the. latch and spring means being spaced from each other, the movable contact connected to the spring means being formed to butt against the stationary contact, with the spring means biasing the movable contact against the stationary contact when the circuit is closed and the handle and latch hold the spring means, the spring being a bowed leaf spring having its ends connected to the handle and latch respectively, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

17. In a circuit breaker controlling mechanism, a stationary contact, a movable contact arranged to butt against the stationary contact, a bowed leaf spring means operatively connected to the movable contact and arranged to bias it against the stationary contacttwhen the spring means is in normal stressed position, a circuit responsive latch directly connected to the spring means for holding. it under tress in normal contact biasing position, a rotatably mounted handle directly connected to the spring means and manipulable by rotary movement out of its nor- 7 mal position to stress the spring means and move it bodily out of its normal position and towards the center of rotation of the handle so that when the handle is released after such movement the spring means will tend to relieve itself of its tress with a snap action, the relative arrangement of the parts being such that on such stress relieving movement of the spring means following such handle movement and subsequent release, the spring means will move bodily beyond the center of rotation of the handle and about the connection between the spring means and latch as a pivot, to move the movable contact away from the stationary contact, and also being such that on release of thelatch, when the handle and spring means are in normal position, the spring means will tend to relieve itself of its stress with a snap action and in so doing will move bodily about its connection to the handle as a pivot and move the movable contact away from the stationary contact, there being a pivotally mounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

18. In a circuit breaker controlling mechanism, a stationary contact, a movable contact arranged to butt against the stationary contact, a spring means operatively connected to the movable contacts and arranged to bias it against the stationary contact when the spring means is in normal stressed position, a circuit responsive latch directly connected to the spring means for holding it under stress in normal contact biasing position, a rotatably mounted handle directly connected to the spring means and manipulable by rotary movement out of its normal position to stress the spring means and move it bodily out of it normal position and towards the center of rotation of the handle so that when the handle is released after such movement the spring means will tend to relieve, itself of its stress with a snap action, the relative arrangement of the parts being such that on such stress relieving movement of the spring means following such handle movement and subsequent release, the spring means will move bodily beyond away from the stationary contact, and also being such that on release of the latch, when the handle and spring means are in normal position, the spring mean will' tend to relieve itself of its stress with a snap action and in so doing will move. bodily about its connection to the handle a a pivot, and move the movable contact away from the stationary contact, the spring being a bowed leaf spring having its ends connected to the handle and latch respectively, there being a pivotallymounted arm in the breaker to which the latch connection end of the spring is connected and to which the latch is releasably connected, both connections to the arm being adjacent, such arm providing the releasable connection between the latch and the spring.

- ELWOOD 'r. PLATZ. 

